The episode:  'Liberty' was the first episode of the series, and begins in the early 18th century with an exploration of
the ideas of philosophers Denis Diderot and Jean-Jacques Rousseau and their role in the development of the French
Revolution and their influence on British poetry during the Romantic period. David Tenant plays Rousseau, while Jason
Watkins features as Diderot. The two men met in Paris in 1742 and became good friends, despite having very different
beliefs. They were both opposed to the existing regime in France, and prompted a doctrine of individual freedom and
liberty. Needless to say, their ideas did not go down well with the authorities, and Diderot was eventually jailed while
Rousseau was forced to leave France. The episode quickly moves from pre-revolution France to the beginnings of the
Romantic movement.

The verdict:  'The Romantics' is an excellent series for people who like documentaries, and those who are intererested
in the era which it covers. The use of footage from 20th century events such as riots and the fall of the Berlin wall to
illustrate historical events such as the storming of the Bastille is rather unusual but effective, as is the idea of having
historical figures such as Rosseau in modern-day settings, such as reciting his philosophy while standing in rush-hour
traffic. The only real complaint is that Peter Ackroyd is on screen way too much, almost as if his contract required him
to be in almost every scene, including the re-enactments. Personally, I think narrators should be heard and not seen!